A Fox News host has apologised after making a barbed remark about Chris Christie’s weight and his ability to down a milkshake.
John Roberts mocked the former New Jersey governor as he discussed his entry into the 2024 presidential race on the right-wing channel’s show America Reports.
Roberts made the comment as he compared the fight for the Republican nomination to two milkshakes, one being drunk by Donald Trump and the other by the remaining candidates.
“The other milkshake, which represents the non-Donald Trump part of the Republican Party, has how many straws in it now? And now we’re gonna have Chris Christie’s straw in there, and judging by Chris Christie’s physical stature, he could drink a lot of the milkshake if he wanted to. But you’re not affecting the Donald Trump milkshake,” he said.
As Roberts made the comment, correspondent Gillian Turner could be heard saying “ouch” live on air. Roberts later addressed his comments on the show and apologised to Mr Christie.
“I just want to take a moment to address something, because I really do feel terrible about it. Earlier on the show, I was making an analogy to describe the Republican voter pool, and I made a comment that I meant to be light-hearted, but I immediately realized was hurtful toward Governor Chris Christie,” he told viewers.
“I should not have said what I said. I deeply regret it and I sincerely apologize to the governor.”
Donald Trump also took a shot at Mr Christie’s weight after the former governor attacked Ivanka Trump at his 2024 launch.
The one-term president shared a video created by Twitter users @NautPoso and @drefanzor which was edited to make it appear as if the ex-New Jersey governor was starting his campaign at an all-you-can-buffet holding a plate of food.
“How many times did Chris Christie use the word SMALL? Does he have a psychological problem with SIZE? Actually, his speech was SMALL, and not very good,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“It rambled all over the place, and nobody had a clue of what he was talking about. Hard to watch, boring, but that’s what you get from a failed Governor (New Jersey) who left office with a 7% approval rating and then got run out of New Hampshire. This time, it won’t be any different!”
